Turnover at Northern Foods jumped 4.1% to £1.34bn in the year to March 31, on the back of strong sales to some of the country's top retailers. Chief executive Jo Stewart said underlying retail sales were up 3%, with growth accelerating towards the end of the period. "Sales to our five largest customers increased 7.5% overall, again showing an improving trend across the year," Stewart said. "Outside the top five, sales declined slightly as discounters, co-ops and the independent trade lost market share to the larger retailers. "The strong sales momentum was achieved despite volume losses in the first quarter in both fresh chilled dairy products and biscuits, as we increased prices and reduced promotional activity." He said new product launches were a key feature of the year, with frozen pizzas and recipe dishes doing well. The group's pretax profit before exceptionals related to restructuring was 6% ahead at £100.2m ­ in line with City forecasts. The operating profit from convenience foods was up 13.6% at £70.1m, while grocery operating profit declined 1.4% to £50.1m, despite strong underlying profit from both biscuits and frozen pizza. During the year, the company, which manufactures Eden Vale dairy goods, Fox's biscuits and own label goods, strengthened its speciality bread operations by acquiring the remaining 75.1% of the share capital of Fletchers Bakeries, which has been integrated with its Kara Grain D'Or business. In February, it purchased a 40% stake in Solway Foods, with an option to purchase the company outright. And last November, it bought United Biscuits' seafood factory in Grimsby, which has been integrated with Cavaghan & Gray. {{NEWS }}